What Sauce Goes Best with Sausage Ravioli? 7 Perfect Pairings

Sausage ravioli is a delicious filled pasta combining rich savory sausage and soft pasta pockets. With so many sauce possibilities what should you serve with this tasty ravioli? The right sauce balances the flavors of the filling and takes the dish to new heights.

Consider sauces that offer creaminess, brightness, and herbiness to complement the sausage. Pesto, Alfredo, tomato, garlic butter, and more all make magnificent matches. Keep reading for 7 sensational sauces for sausage ravioli.

1. Creamy Alfredo Sauce

For ultimate indulgence top your sausage ravioli with a velvety Alfredo sauce. The rich creaminess helps mellow the spice and seasoning of the sausage filling. At the same time the savory sausage boosts the decadence of the sauce.

Quick Alfredo:

• Melt butter then sauté garlic 1 minute.
• Gradually whisk in heavy cream, parmesan, salt and pepper.
• Once thickened, toss sauce with cooked ravioli.

2. Fresh Basil Pesto

Herby pesto makes a phenomenal match for sausage ravioli. The basil, garlic, pine nuts, and olive oil provide a fresh counterpoint to the rich ravioli filling.

Make easy pesto:

• In a blender, mix basil, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan, olive oil, lemon juice.
• Stream in pasta water to thin pesto for coating ravioli.

3. Spicy Arrabbiata Sauce

If you like heat, arrabbiata sauce turns up the intensity on sausage ravioli This spicy tomato sauce infused with chili flakes plays off the seasoning of the sausage perfectly.

Quick arrabbiata:

• In olive oil, sauté garlic, onions and red pepper flakes.
• Add crushed tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper.
• Simmer until thickened then toss with ravioli.

4. Savory Mushroom Sauce

Earthy mushroom sauce makes a stellar match for sausage ravioli. The umami-rich mushrooms balance the richness of the filling for amazing flavor.

Easy mushroom sauce:

• Sauté chopped mushrooms in butter.
• Make a roux then whisk in broth, cream, thyme.
• Simmer until thickened then mix with ravioli.

5. Ooey, Gooey Cheese Sauce

For next-level indulgence, smother your sausage ravioli in velvety cheese sauce. The creaminess and savoriness take this filling to new heights.

Quick cheese sauce:

• Make a roux with butter and flour.
• Stir in milk and shredded cheese until smooth.
• Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne.

6. Fresh Tomato Sauce

Bright, acidic tomato sauce makes a traditional pair for any sausage ravioli. Let the sauce’s simplicity complement the already intense filling.

Easy tomato sauce:

• In olive oil, sauté garlic.
• Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt and pepper.
• Simmer until thickened then mix with ravioli.

7. Garlicky Butter Sauce

Fast garlic butter sauce lets the sausage filling shine. The butter enhances richness while the garlic boosts flavor.

Whip up garlic butter:

• Melt butter then add minced garlic.
• Simmer 2 minutes then drizzle over hot ravioli.

Beyond these ideas, almost any sauce complements and intensifies sausage ravioli. Alfredo, pesto, tomato, cream, and cheese sauces all make sensational matches. Just avoid overly complicated sauces that will compete too much with the filling.

With so many choices, you could enjoy sausage ravioli with a different perfect sauce every night of the week!

Tips for Picking and Preparing Ravioli Sauce

Follow these tips to select and make the ideal sauce for your sausage ravioli:

• Match sauce intensity to the seasoning level of the filling. Try richer sauces with spicy sausage or tomato sauce with milder fillings.

• Keep sauce slightly thinner than usual to evenly coat ravioli instead of traditional pasta shapes.

• For convenience, doctor up jarred sauce with fresh garlic, herbs, olive oil, etc.

• Gently fold sauce and ravioli together to keep delicate pasta pockets intact.

• Finish with freshly grated parmesan, red pepper flakes, or chopped herbs.

• Make extra sauce since ravioli pockets require generous coating.

• Cook any sauce components like mushrooms or pancetta ahead of time for quick finishing.

With so many sauces to try, you could enjoy sausage ravioli night after night without tiring of it. Try herbaceous pesto one night, spicy arrabbiata the next, and rich Alfredo later in the week for endless variety.

Cooking Sausage Ravioli to Perfection

No matter what sauce you pick, be sure to cook the ravioli properly for the ideal pasta texture:

• Use plenty of salted water to allow ravioli to move freely while cooking.

• Carefully add ravioli to gently boiling water then stir immediately to prevent sticking.

• Cook just until tender yet slightly chewy, about 2-4 minutes usually.

• Scoop ravioli out with a slotted spoon instead of draining to avoid breaking delicate pasta.

• Be careful not to overcook, which can make ravioli mushy.

• Gently combine sauce and ravioli to keep pasta pockets intact.

By mastering the ravioli cooking process, you’ll end up with tender pasta ready to be sauced.

Full Meal Ideas Featuring Sausage Ravioli

Here are some full meal suggestions showcasing sausage ravioli paired with a tasty sauce:

Sausage Ravioli with Mushroom Cream Sauce – Toss ravioli in creamy mushroom sauce then top with parmesan. Serve with crusty garlic bread.

Pesto Sausage Ravioli Bake – Cover baked ravioli with fresh basil walnut pesto and mozzarella. Enjoy with a side salad.

Sausage Ravioli in Tomato Cream Sauce – Coat ravioli in tomato sauce spiked with cream and basil. Add meatballs and broccoli on the side.

Sausage Ravioli Carbonara – Toss hot ravioli with smoky pancetta in egg and parmesan carbonara sauce. Serve with garlic knots.

Spicy Sausage Ravioli – Mix ravioli with arrabbiata sauce and top with parsley. Enjoy with sautéed zucchini ribbons.

With endless sauce options, you could make a different sausage ravioli dish every week and never repeat!

Sausage Ravioli Deserves an Outstanding Sauce

Don’t settle for lackluster jarred sauce on your sausage ravioli. Take the time to make or select a sauce that really complements the filling flavors. Basil pesto, garlic butter, Alfredo, tomato sauce, and more all pair fabulously.

Savory sausage stuffed in tender pasta pockets deserves an amazing sauce. Opt for flavors that balance, accentuate, and meld with the ravioli filling. With so many choices, you could enjoy this pasta in creative new ways every night of the week!

No matter what sauce you pick, gently fold it with the ravioli to keep the pasta intact. Then finish with a garnish like red pepper flakes or parmesan for added flavor. Your tastebuds will rejoice with each bite of superbly sauced sausage ravioli.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sauce for Sausage Ravioli

Here are answers to some common questions about picking the perfect sauce for sausage ravioli:

What are the most popular sauces to serve with sausage ravioli?

Traditional tomato sauce, pesto, Alfredo, and creamy mushroom sauce are likely the top pairings for this filled pasta.

Can I use store-bought sauce on my homemade sausage ravioli?

Yes, you can absolutely use quality jarred pasta sauce for quick prep. Look for kinds without a lot of added sugar. Mix in fresh herbs, garlic or sausage drippings to boost flavor.

Would vodka sauce pair well with sausage ravioli?

Definitely! The creamy tomato flavor of vodka sauce complements and enhances sausage ravioli wonderfully.

What sauce goes best with spicy sausage ravioli?

For hot and spicy sausage filling, tomato or cream-based sauces help balance the heat. Avoid piling on more spice with the sauce.